Gay Berlin: A Gay Travel Guide to Germany’s Hippest City

About the Guide

We are continuing to add to our collection of gay guides for Europe’s top city destinations and here you’ll find everything you need to know about Berlin to help inspire you and plan your visit. We’ve included the top recommendations for Berlin in this post and you can also download the full version of the European Gay Travel Guide for free. In it you’ll also find information for Barcelona, Madrid, Porto, Nice, Paris, and Athens in addition to Berlin. We’ve even thrown in a guide to Tel Aviv as a bonus given both its popularity with LGBT travelers and its proximity to Europe.

Just provide your email address and we’ll email you a PDF with all the best advice and information about the cities including best times to go, free tours, details on airport transfers, metro maps, nightlife, restaurant, accommodation and sightseeing options, money saving tips and discounts valued at 500€.

Overview

Berlin is arguably the gayest capital city in Europe…or at least the kinkiest and most alternative. Yes, Berlin is a scene for artists and independents and this becomes obvious through the variety of places to explore in the city. From amazing street art and gritty neighborhoods with leftover feelings from the East Germany GDR times to the hip and trendy neighborhoods like Kreuzberg or Schoneberg, Berlin truly has something to offer for everyone. Whether it’s art and history or dancing until the sun comes up in one of the countless nightlife options, Berlin doesn’t disappoint. Berlin is truly an international city in Europe and is probably only rivaled by London with its diversity of foreigners and creatively. In fact, you could probably live your whole life in Berlin and probably not need to learn more than a few words in German.

Transportation & Airport Transfer

Berlin has an incredibly developed public transport system including subway, overground train, trams, buses and bike share. Berlin is extremely bike friendly with tons of dedicated lanes and locals stick to their bikes through rain and shine, snow and heat. The transport system can be a bit overwhelming for a first-time visitor. The subway system is called the “U-bahn” while the overground train is called the “S-bahn.” Berlin works on a zone system starting with Zone A in the center and B and C moving out towards the outskirts of the city. Tickets are valid all on all trains and buses and need to be validated at the machine before boarding. The most economical route is to purchase either an unlimited or multi-day ticket or perhaps a 4-ride ticket which offers a discount compared to single rides.

Berlin has two airports: Berlin Tegel and Berlin Schönefeld. Berlin Tegel is in zone B and you can reach the city center by taking either the TXL bus or X9 JetExpressBus with a zone AB ticket, purchased from the machine outside the terminal. Berlin Schönefeld requires a zone ABC ticket since it’s farther out but is connected by the S-bahn train. The train station is not directly at the airport so you’ll take a free transfer bus from the terminal to the station.

ArtHotel Connection – A gay hotel with 16 rooms in the gay area of Berlin-Schöneberg; conveniently situated next to the Prinzknecht bar and Connection Club.

Hotel zu Hause Berlin – Gay-owned and subtly charming, this accommodating bed and breakfast is located right in the heart of gay Schöneberg; 10 seconds from ‘Bull’ or ‘New Action’.

Axel Hotel – the most famous gay hotel chain also has a location in Berlin. They are first gay hotel to coin the term “straight-friendly.” They have a nice rooftop terrace (enclosed) and popular restaurant and bar on the ground floor called Hamburger Mary’s. The Axel is centrally located and near the Schöneberg gay neighborhood. Rates start at 100€ per night.

Hüttenpalast – A pet-friendly collection of hotel rooms, retro-style caravans and huts, with a garden for outdoor seating. Restaurants, cafes, and bars are a short 5-minute walk

Mercure Hotel – This is one of the long time favorites for gay travelers located in the heart of the Schoenberg neighborhood. You’ll find plenty of nightlife, restaurants, and gay shops within walking distance. Friendly staff and huge breakfast for just 10€ extra. Bike rentals available onsite.

Budget

Tom’s Hotel – A clean, near-budget, basic-plus and modern hotel in central gay Berlin. Coincidentally (or not) located right above one of the most established man-on-man bars in Berlin. Breakfast is served until 5 pm for party boys having taken full advantage of Berlin’s ‘no closing time’ policy.

Motel One – (rooms run 72–90 €) A ‘design’ hotel chain for budget travelers. Modern, clean and a good value for the money. Very close to Schöneberg’s gay area.

My Gay Hostel – Rooms are between 18–60 €, with a minimum 2-night stay. This small gay hostel in Berlin-Schöneberg has shared facilities for its single rooms, double rooms and bunk rooms.

Gay Hostel – Super affordable, very clean and personable (and the beds are comfy) with an equally affordable Chinese restaurant in the same building.

Apartments

There are many sites for apartment rentals in Berlin, with AirBnB probably being one of the most popular. Prices are generally comparable to budget hotels, especially if you’re willing to get a room in a shared apartment.

Photo Credit: misterbnb

There are even a few LGBT-oriented booking sites like misterb&b with listings from gay hosts for gay guests where you can either rent a whole apartment or a private room in a shared apartment. Understanding Berlin’s gay scene is much more easily done with the help of a local and apartment sharing is one of the best ways to meet someone living in the city who knows how things work, where and when are the best nights to go out, and what places to eat at and which to avoid.

Tiergarten – Only minutes from transportation to all of Berlin, this massively lush park stretches through central Berlin and offers a relaxing contrast to the city’s hustle and bustle.

Schwules Museum – This museum chronicles the history of gay culture, both internationally and in Germany specifically. Interesting for a quick visit but perhaps not for everyone.

Gay Tours in Berlin

Rainbow Tours Berlin – If you’re looking for a tour oriented for the LGBT traveler, then we definitely recommend Rainbow Tours Berlin. The company started in 2014 in Barcelona and they’ve expanded to Madrid, Berlin, and London. Eloi is the owner and has become a good friend. We went on some of his tours in both Madrid and Barcelona and had a great time. They offer city tours as well as nightlife and pub crawl type tours with local gay guides that can answer any possible question about gay Berlin you could ever think of. You can even save 10% on the tours by booking with the code TWOBADTOURISTS.

Queer Berlin Walking Tour – Explore Berlin’s gay and lesbian history on a unique Queer Berlin tour of its gay neighborhoods and locations. See the poignant Holocaust memorial, visit one of the city’s oldest gay and transvestite bars and end at the Gay Museum.

Gay Berlin Tour: Out in Schöneberg – Experience an exciting tour of the historical traces of Berlin’s oldest gay neighborhood, the rainbow quarter of north Schöneberg, between Dennewitzstraße and Nollendorfplatz. Learn about how the district became what it is today and what the future holds.

Café More – Excellent drinks, good food and reasonably priced. The place to find asparagus made the right way and the schnitzel is a must. Address: Motzstraße 28, 10777

Hasir – the place to go for great authentic Turkish food. The quality of the chicken and lamb is excellent and cooked to perfection. The vegetarian starters are also superb. Address: Maaßenstraße 10, 10777

CoCo Bahn Mi – Great little place for a quick bite with tasty Vietnamese style sandwiches and delicious tea. Their friendly staff is helpful by explaining the menu options that are available. Address: Rosenthaler Str. 2, 10119

Café Berio – Popular in summer, this cafe in Berlin-Schöneberg, has a busy street terrace and a mixed clientele. Address: Maaßenstraße 7, 10777

Mustafa’s – great dining on a budget. Can get crazy busy, but for the best kebabs in town, it’s well worth the wait. Fresh bread and veggies are noteworthy as well. Address: Mehringdamm 32, 10961

Berlin Gay Bars and Lounges

Tom’s Bar – (10:00 pm – 6:00 am) Berlin’s most famous cruising-oriented gay bar/club. The atmosphere gets markedly hotter the further you go to the back. Behind the table soccer games and the large screen is an entrance to the infamous, cellar-located ‘dark room’. Address: Motzstraße 19, 10777

Möbel Olfe – (Tuesday – Sunday from 6:00 pm) Gay-friendly clientele frequent this popular bar in Berlin-Kreuzberg. “Möbel Olfe” is taken from a huge neon sign above what used to be a furniture store. After it closed, the signage was simply left behind. Address: Reichenberger Str. 177, 10999

The Club – (Tuesday – Thursday 7:00pm – 1:00am; Friday, Saturday 7:00pm – 04:00am) A queer bar in Berlin-Neukölln with trans nights, ‘grrrls’, exhibitions, drag performances, film screenings and art. CLUB is a cozy place to have drinks, hang out and be queer. What could be better? Address: Biebricher Str. 14, 12053

Hafen – (Daily from 8:00 pm) This popular, stylish bar has an artistic twist. When the weather is fine, guys enjoy a beer outside on the pavement. Quizz-O-Rama, a unique quiz show, is presented on Mondays. Address: Motzstraße 19, 10777

Roses – (Daily from 9:00 pm) This has a completely pink interior and, on weekends, is jam-packed. If pink is your color, get to this small, cozy, very campy gay bar. Address: Oranienstraße 187, 10999

Gay Clubs and Parties in Berlin

Clubs

Berghain/Panorama – DJs playing electronic music and live acts on stage in a nightclub that used to be a warehouse. The ice cream bar hidden in the corner upstairs is a great little place to take breaks between stomping sessions. Address: Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243

GMF – Open Sunday from 11 pm, it’s one of the best gay parties in Berlin with a friendly, pleasantly diverse crowd. Everyone from older muscle guys to trendy young queens mixes it up to House/Electro and Pop/R’n’B. Admission: 10 €. Address: Klosterstraße 44, 10179 Berlin

Schwuz – Schwuz has been the place for lesbians, music festivals, queer film, sex parties, discussions, readings, and transvestite shows for over 30 years. It’s a former brewery now offering Saturday and Friday night parties with various music styles. Address: Rollbergstraße 26, 12053

Cruising & Men Only

Der Boiler – one of the most popular saunas in Berlin located in Kreuzberg. You’ll find a combination of traditional spa amenities plus plenty of darkroom adventures. There’s a nice bar on site with drinks and snacks. Very clean facilities, nice looking guys with a wide range of ages. It’s worth the 20€ entrance price and is open every day of the year. Address: Mehringdamm 34, 10961

Note: there are SOOO many more cruising bars and kinky places in Berlin. Der Boiler is probably the top choice for sauna but we’ll let you explore the rest on your own! Some possible crusing options might include Tom’s Bar (downstairs), Sheune, Connection Club, Bull and well, the list goes on and on.

Hustlaball – features a VIP room with hardcore ‘performances’ on 2 stages by a variety of famous sex stars. Performances cover a number of ‘genres’ including Roman Gladiator, rubber, leather, etc.

Day Trips from Berlin

Potsdam – take S-Bahn S7 line from the Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Cost: 7.40€ for an ABC day ticket. (RE1 is also an option.) If you rent a bike to tour these unforgettable gardens, keep in mind that some are ‘walking-only’ accessible. Consider yourself a photographer? You’ll never find a backdrop the likes of this anywhere!

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp – enlightening but somber, this is one giant history lesson all wrapped up. The real picture of mankind‘s inhumanity toward his fellow man. You’ll learn more spending one day at this somber but tastefully done memorial than in all your history lessons combined. Find the best route/transportation by clicking here.

Dresden – Dresden railway is an electrified, double track, main line railway through the German states of Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin, originally operated and built by the Berlin-Dresden Railway Company. You may well need more than one day to shop, eat, drink and sight-see your way through this historic haven! Plan on at least 2 days.You can travel from Berlin by train (cost between $40 and $80, depending on the type of train. Recommended: the EC train – it is cheaper than the ICE and goes directly to Dresden in about 2 hours), by car (about a 2 hour drive) or by bus (2.5 hours for only $12).

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